Floribunda rose plant named &#39;GRAred&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘GRAred’ is a new and distinct floribunda type  Rosa  hybrid cultivar which is characterized by the combination of an upright to semi-weeping growth habit, excellent resistance to  Diplocarpon rosae , nearly continuous flowering, red-purple double flowers, a moderate rose fragrance, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation. The new cultivar is generally suited to landscape applications.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Australian Plant Breeder's Rights application No. 2015/098, filed on Apr. 27 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Rosa hybrid.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Rosa hybrid disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘GRAred’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Rosa hybrid, floribunda rose cultivar, which has been given the variety denomination of ‘GRAred’. Its market class is PLT/141.

Parentage

‘GRAred’ is a seedling selection which resulted from the controlled cross-pollination of an unnamed Rosa hybrid female breeding line and an unnamed Rosa hybrid male breeding line. Both parents, developed by the same inventor and never commercially released, exhibited traits deemed commercially significant and desirable.

After many years of trialing, the female parent was confirmed to possess a combination of desirable traits such as complete resistance to rose black spot disease, complete resistance to powdery mildew, and flowers with a strong citrus-like perfume borne on a bushy plant growing to 1.2 m tall and wide. The male parent was selected for use in breeding after trialing confirmed the presence of strong true-rose perfume and a bright, modern flower color. During the summer of 2010, the female parent was emasculated and was manually pollinated with pollen from the male parent. In autumn of 2010, seed was collected from hips produced by the female parent and a number of seedlings were grown to a mature size, including the claimed plant. These progeny were further evaluated for desirable traits such as black spot disease resistance and strong perfume, and in June of 2011 the claimed plant was first observed. In January of 2013, after further evaluation for desirable traits, the claimed plant was deemed to be garden-worthy and suited to widespread cultivation. It was given the denomination, ‘GRAred’.

Asexual Reproduction

Asexual propagation of ‘GRAred’, by way of softwood stem cuttings, was first performed in May of 2011 at the inventor's nursery in Highfields, Australia. Through more than twelve subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Rosa cultivar ‘GRAred’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘GRAred’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   1. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAred’ exhibits an upright to semi-weeping growth     habit; and -   2. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAred’ exhibits excellent resistance to the plant     pathogen, Diplocarpon rosae, commonly referred to as rose black spot     disease; and -   3. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAred’ exhibits nearly continuous flowering; and -   4. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAred’ exhibits a double flower type; and -   5. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAred’ exhibits red-purple flowers; and -   6. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAred’ exhibits flowers with a moderate rose     fragrance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary 15 month old ‘GRAred’ plant grown outdoors at the inventor's commercial nursery in Highfields, Australia.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical flower of ‘GRAred’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements, made in February of 2015, describe averages of two own-root specimens of one year old ‘GRAred’ plants. The plants were grown outdoors in 20 cm containers, in a soilless pine bark based growing media, at the inventor's nursery in Highfields, Australia. No shade or supplemental light was provided. Temperatures ranged from approximately 17 to 35 degrees Celsius during the day and 7 to 18 degrees Celsius at night. Standard practices for irrigation, fertilizer and pest control were applied at appropriate times during the growing season. The plants were pruned three times during the growing season using accepted techniques for rose pruning.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘GRAred’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2007 Fifth Edition except where common terms of color are used.

A botanical description of ‘GRAred’ and comparisons with the parents and the most similar commercial cultivar of Rosa hybrid are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright to semi-weeping.         -   Growth rate.—Approximately 6 months to reach 60 cm.         -   Dimensions.—60 cm tall and 50 cm wide.         -   Environmental tolerance.—Very good heat tolerance; cold             hardiness is unknown.         -   Disease resistance.—Excellent resistance to powdery mildew             (Sphaerotheca pannosa) and blackspot (Diplocarpon rosae).         -   Propagation.—Technique — Softwood stem cuttings. Time to             initiate roots — About 13 days at approximately 21 degrees             Celsius at root zone and 18 degrees Celsius ambient             temperature. Time to produce a rooted cutting — About 25             days at approximately 21 degrees Celsius at root zone and 18             degrees Celsius ambient temperature. -   Root system: White fibrous roots with many root hairs extending from     lesser roots in a featherlike arrangement. -   Branches:     -   -   Branching habit.—Irregular branching from mature branches,             breaking first from the uppermost buds near the apex of each             shoot.         -   Quantity.—Numerous.         -   General dimensions.—Approximately 35 cm long; 1.5 cm in             diameter near the base and tapering to 1.0 cm.         -   Immature branches.—Diameter — Approximately 1) 5 cm. Texture             and pubescence — Smooth with prickles; glabrous. Color —             Near RHS 142B. Prickles —Density — Sparse to moderate. Color             — Near RHS 177A. Shape — Concave. Texture — Smooth.         -   Mature branches.—

Diameter — Approximately 1.5 cm, after one year. Texture and pubescence — Smooth with prickles; glabrous. Color — Near RHS 144C. Prickles —Density — Sparse to moderate. Color — Near RHS 177A. Shape — Concave. Texture — Smooth.

-   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate imparipinnate compound leaves.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 7 per mature branch.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf internode length.—7 cm.         -   Dimensions.—Approximately 10 cm long and 7 cm wide.         -   Petiole.—Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 0.1 to 0.2 cm wide.             Color — Near RHS 137C and margined RHS 61A. Texture and             pubescence — Smooth and pubescent. Prickles — Not present.             Stipitate glands — Not present.         -   Stipule.—Dimensions — 0.7 cm long and 0.2 cm wide. Color —             Near RHS 144C. Texture and pubescence — Smooth and glabrous.             Margins — Ciliate. Apex — Apiculate. Base — Winged. Prickles             — Not present. Stipitate glands — Not present.         -   Rachis.—Dimensions — 1.5 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color —             Near RHS 137A. Prickles — Not present. Stipitate glands —             Not present.         -   Leaflets.—Quantity — Five leaflets on axillary leaves.             Dimensions — Average size of the terminal leaflet is 5.0 cm             long and 3.5 cm wide. Shape — Ovate. Apex — Acuminate. Base             — Ovate. Margins — Serrated. Texture, pubescence and luster,             adaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous, and matte; juvenile             foliage has a bullate texture. Texture, pubescence and             luster, abaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous, and matte;             juvenile foliage has a bullate texture. Juvenile foliage             color, adaxial surface — Near RHS 137C, with anthocyanin             intonations, near RHS 58A, throughout the entire leaf             surface. Juvenile foliage color, abaxial surface — Near RHS             137C, with anthocyanin intonations, RHS 58A, throughout the             entire leaf surface. Mature foliage color, adaxial surface —             Near RHS N136B. Mature foliage color, abaxial surface — Near             RHS 137D. Venation — Pinnate. Venation color, adaxial             surface — Near RHS N136B, with midrib RHS 61A. Venation             color, abaxial surface — Near RHS 137D, with midrib RHS 61A.             Petiolule —Dimensions — 0.2 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color —             Near RHS 137A with anthocyanin intonations present, near RHS             53A. Prickles — Not present. Texture — Smooth. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers are solitary.         -   Blooming habit.—Almost continuous from October through June             in the southern hemisphere.         -   Time to flower.—6 to 8 weeks for a new stem to mature and             flowering begins to occur once a stem matures.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — 3.0 cm long and 0.2 cm in diameter.             Color — Near RHS 141D. Strength — Strong. Texture and             pubescence — Smooth and pubescent. Prickles — Not present. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Size.—2.0 cm long and 1.0 cm in diameter.         -   Color.—Near RHS 143C. -   Flower:     -   -   Calyx.—General — Comprised of five polysepalous sepals, with             strong foliaceous appendages present on all sepals. Diameter             of calyx — 0.7 cm Sepals —Color, interior surface — RHS             136D. Color, exterior surface — RHS 143C. Dimensions — 2.0             cm long and 0.6 cm wide. Apex — Apiculate. Base — Flat at             union with receptacle. Quantity — Five. Pubescence — Densely             puberulent. Margins — Strong foliaceous appendages.             Stipitate glands — Not present.         -   Corolla.—General shape of corolla — Cupped and             irregularly-rounded with a loose outer whorl. Rate of             opening — 6 days from bud to anthesis. Dimensions —             Approximately 6 cm in diameter and 4 cm deep. Fragrance —             Strong rose scent. Lastingness — On the plant for 5 days             after anthesis. Persistence — Self-cleaning. Petals —Petal             count — Exhibits double flowers with approximately 22 petals             under normal conditions. Petal arrangement — Irregularly             rounded whorl at anthesis and aging to a loose whorl.             Dimensions — 3.1 cm long and 3.0 cm wide. Petal shape —             Obovate. Apex — Rounded to cordate. Base — Flattened, then             obtuse. Petal reflex — Slightly reflexed at apex. Petal             margin — Entire; slightly undulating. Texture — Soft. Aspect             — Slightly ruffled. Petal color, upon opening —Upper surface             — Near RHS N57A. Lower surface — Near RHS N57B. Petal color,             at anthesis —Upper surface — Near RHS N66A. Lower surface —             Near RHS N66B. Fading to — Near RHS 63B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity — Approximately 50. Anthers —Shape —             Narrow ovate. Length — 0.1 cm. Color — Near RHS 21B. Pollen             — Many. Pollen Color — Near RHS 3A. Filaments —Color — Near             RHS 46D. Length — Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Pistils.—Quantity — Approximately 50. Length — Approximately             1.0 cm. Stigma —Shape — Ovate. Color — Near RHS 11B. Style             —Length — Approximately 0.8 cm long. Color — Near RHS 18C.         -   Ovary.—Dimensions — 0.5 cm long and 0.3 cm wide. Color —             Near RHS 3D.         -   Receptacle.—Shape — Pitcher-shaped. Dimensions — 0.5 cm high             and 0.5 cm wide. Color — Near RHS 141D. -   Hip and seed:     -   -   Hip.—Shape — Rounded. Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 1.0 cm             wide. Texture — Smooth. Color — Near RHS 138C.         -   Seed.—Shape — Rounded. Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 1.0 cm             wide. Color — Near RHS 144D.

Comparisons with the Parents

The new rose plant ‘GRAred’ may be distinguished from its seed parent, an unnamed breeding line, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   1. The flowers of ‘GRAred’ exhibit a distinct red-purple general     tonality, whereas the flowers of the seed parent exhibit a soft pink     general tonality. -   2. ‘GRAred’ exhibits an upright to semi-weeping growth habit,     whereas the seed parent exhibits an upright growth habit.

The new rose plant ‘GRAred’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent, an unnamed breeding line, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   1. The flowers of ‘GRAred’ exhibit a distinct red-purple general     tonality, whereas the flowers of the pollen parent exhibit a purple     general tonality. -   2. ‘GRAred’ exhibits an upright to semi-weeping growth habit,     whereas the pollen parent exhibits an upright growth habit. -   3. Juvenile foliage of ‘GRAred’ is matte with a bullate texture,     whereas the juvenile foliage of the pollen parent is semi-glossy and     smooth.

Comparisons with the Most Similar Variety of Common Knowledge

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GRAred’ may be distinguished from the commercial variety Rosa hybrid ‘GRAppl’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,364) by the following combination of characteristics:

-   1. The flowers of ‘GRAred’ exhibit a distinct red-purple general     tonality, whereas the flowers of ‘GRAppl’ exhibit a purple general     tonality. -   2. Juvenile foliage of ‘GRAred’ exhibits strong anthocyanin     intonations throughout the entire leaf, whereas the juvenile foliage     of ‘GRAppl’ exhibits anthocyanin intonations only at the margins. -   3. ‘GRAred’ exhibits a leaf internode length of approximately 7 cm,     whereas ‘GRAppl’ exhibits leaf internodes which are approximately 3     cm long. -   4. Mature field-grown ‘GRAred’ plants exhibit an average plant     height of 140 cm, whereas ‘GRAppl’ exhibits an average plant height     of 120 cm. 

That which is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Rosa hybrid plant named ‘GRAred’, as described and illustrated herein. 